Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs South Hampton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Deerfield | Lee | South Hampton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,576 |
984Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| South Hampton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.